Signal-flag support



June 12,1923. 1,458,808

I J. M. CONLEY S IGNAL FLAG SUPPORT Filed March 19, 1923 o if 0 IINVEQTOR.

J'ojep/ull 6 0 H16 24' BY J0 Z0 74 ATTORNEY. Z3 8 Patented June 12,1923.

UNITED STATES PATENT omen-.1

JOSEPH M. CONLEY, 0F GREENVILLE JUNCTION, MAINE, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO A. M. BIRD, OF MEGANTIC, PROVINCE OF QUEBEC, CANADA.

SIGNAL-FLAG SUPPORT.

Application filed March 19, 1923. Serial No. 626,089.-

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JosnPirM. CONLEY, a'citizen of the United States, residing at Greenville Junction, in the county of Piscat-, aquis and State of Maine, have invented certaln new and useful Improvements in Signal- F lag Supports, of which thefollowing is a specification.

. This invention-relates to portable signal devices, more particularly adapted for use in railway repair operations, and to signal trains approaching portions of the track which are being repaired, and has for one of its objects to provide a device of this character which maybe quickly applied where required and folded to occupy! a small space when not in use or when being transported or stored.

' Another object of the invention is to pro vide a device ofthis character which may be readily adjusted to varying conditions of the roadbed ofa railway line, withoutdetaching any of the parts.

. With these and other objects in view the invention consistsin certain novel features of construction as hereinafter shown and described and then specifically pointed out in the claims, and in the drawings i1lus trative of the preferred embodiment of the invention.

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the 1mproved device, partly in section, and supported from a railway rail and likewise support ed from the ground adjacent to the railway line, the railway rail being in'transverse sec- *tion.

Figur 2 is a plan view of the parts shown in Figure 1, and partly in section.

Figure 3 is a section on theline 3- -3 of Fi re 2.

' igure 4 is an enlarged section on the line 4:4 of Figure 3. 1

Figure 5 is an enlarged line 5-5 of Figure 4.

Figure 6 is a detached plan v1ew of the base member of'the improved device.

Figure 7 is a detail illustrating the manner of holdingthe signal flag in its lowered or operative position. v I q Figure 8 is a detail illustratlng a modification of the construction.

The improved device comprises a base section on the i plate 10 having L-shaped brackets 11 each bolted. or otherwise attached thereto by one of the webs of each as shown at 12 with the other webs directed vertically and in spaced relation as shown. The vertical webs of the brackets are provided with inwardly diwhich means the mast is mounted to swing into a vertical or horizontal quiredr At its upper endthe mast 141 is provided with a casing 15 in which a fabric member 16 of red or other color may be rolled or unrolled, as required. The casing 15 is pro vided with a hook 17 to which a signal lantern, indicated at 18, may be suspended for night signalling. I r

The roller within the casing is not shown, as it forms no part of the present invention. The roller is provided with a crank 19 whereby it may be actuated.

The mast 14is tubular and formed with posltlon, as re a longitudinal slot indicated'at 14, and slidable in the mast is an extension member 20, the base member 10 having an aperture 21 'to permit the extension member to pass.

The extension member is provided with a clamp screw 22 operating through the slot 1 1 to provide means for holding the extension member in adjusted position or to lock it wholly withdrawn into the mast, as may be required. I

The verticalwebs of the brackets are reduced at their upper ends as shown at'23, and

V shaped transversely and attheir outer ends are provided with toe members 27 adapted to be forced between oneof the fishplates 28 and the webs of the rails 29, as representedin Figures 1 and 2. j

The bars 26 are connected intermediate their ends bya link 30, the latter pivoted at one end at 31 to one of the bars 26 and de tachably coupled at the other end at 82 to the other bar. The bar to which the link is detachably coupled is provided with a. plurality of apertures 33 for the bolt 32., so that the bars 26 may be adjustably coupled to enable them to be fitted to fish plates of varyin lengths.

By this arrangement the bolt 32 may be detached and the link 30 turned laterally into the position shown by dotted lines in Figure 2, and the rail engaging ends of the bars moved toward each other when not in use, and secured in their closed position by a hook 34 or like device. By this means the device may be folded for transportation or storage.

Pivoted at 35 to one of the bars 26 externally of the base member 10 and its brackets 11 is a bar 36 having a longitudinally dirested slot 37 to receive a clamp bolt 38 in the other bar 26.

By this means the bars may be firmly locked in distended position.

The average roadb'ed adjacent .to the rails and ties of railway lines is below the level of the rails to a greater or lesser extent, and the extension member 20 enables the device to be easily supported with the bars 26 in a horizontal position and the meet 14 in a vertical position regardlessoi the distance below the level of the rails.

The tubular mast l t is shown square, transversely, with the interior also square, and the member 20 correspondingly square, but the mast and stay members may be round or in other form as required, or arranged as shown in Figure 8 with the member 20 slidable upon the member 14: and guided by sleeves or collars 39 and held by a set screw 40.

It is not desired to limit the invention to any specific form of the mast and its extension member 20.

In practice the bars 26 will be about five feet or more in length to hold the mast at that distance from the nearest rail so that the passing trains will not strike the mast, and the mast will be of suflicient length to hold the signal flag about five .feet above the upper lines of the rails, but these dimensions may be varied as required.

The improved device is simple in construction, may be made wholly of metal, and as light as possible consistent with the strains to which. it will be subjected.

The improved implement when folded may be transported with the other tools or apparatus employed by the track repairers or others, and will be found very convenient for the purposes described.

The preferred embodiment of the invention is disclosed in the drawings and set forth in the specification, but it will be un derstood that'modifications within the scope of the claimed invention may be made in the construction without departing from the principle of the lIlVBIllllOIl. or sacrificing any olt its advantages.

Having thus described the invention whatis claimed as new is:

1. A signal support comprising a base member, bracket devices attached to said base member and including vertical portions having studs extending from their confronting faces, a mast mount-ed to swing upon said studs and adapted to carry a signal device, means for locking said mast to said brackets, an extension member, means for locking said extension member adjustably to said mast, bars swingingly connected at their outer portions to said brackets and adapted to be coupled at their inner ends to a railway rail, and meansfor locking said barsto said railway rail.

2. A signal support comprising a base member, bracket devices attached to said base member and including vertical portions, a mast mounted to swing between said brackets and adapted to carry a signal device, means for locking said mast to said brackets, an extension member, means for locking said extension member adjustably to said mast, bars swingingly connected at their outer portions to said brackets and adapted to be cou'- pied at their inner ends to a railway rail, and means for locking said bars to said railway rail.

A signal support comprising a base member, bracket devices attached to said base member and including vertical portion-s, a mast mounted to swing between said brackets and adapted to carry a signal device, a collar enclosing said bracket and operating to lock the mast therebetween, an extension member, means for locking said extension member adjustably to said mast, bars swingingly connected at their outer portions to said brackets and adapted to be coupled to their inner ends to a railway rail, and means for locking said bars to saidrailway rail.

4:. A signal support including coacting brackets, a mast carrying signal devices and swinging between said brackets, means for locking said mast to said brackets, an extension member, means for locking said extension member adjustably to said mast, bars swinging-1y connected at their outer ends to said brackets and adapted to be coupled at their inner ends to a railway rail, and: means for locking said bars to said railway rail.

5. A signal support including coacting brackets. a mast carrying signal devices and swinging between said brackets, means for locking said mast to said brackets, an extension inember. means for locking said extension member adjust-ably to said mast, bars pivotally coupled to said brackets and adapted to be detachably coupled to a railway rail. a slotted lockingmember pivoted atone end to one of saidb ars, and a clamp device engaging the other bar and operating through the slot of the locking member.

6. A signal support including coactlng brackets, amast carrying signal devices: and

swinging between said brackets, means for locking said mast to said brackets, an extension member, means for locking said extension member adj ustably to said mast, bars pivotally coupled to said brackets and adapted to be detachably coupled to a railway rail, a slotted locking member pivoted at one end to one of said bars externally of the brackets, a clamp device engagingthe other bar and operating through the slot of the locking member, and a link pivoted at one end to one of the bars and inwardly of'the brackets, and means for detachably coupling the link at the other end to the other bar.

In testimony whereof, I aflix my signature hereto.

JOEPH GONLEY. 

